Boston Red Sox must solidify pitching staff

Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz are the Red Sox’ top three starters, but after that the rotation gets a little iffy. The real problem that manager Bobby Valentine faces is finding a fifth starter or perhaps a sixth.

By Mike Fine

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Mike Fine

Posted Mar. 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 20, 2012 at 8:07 PM

By Mike Fine

Posted Mar. 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 20, 2012 at 8:07 PM

» Social News

In the spirit of sending out vital press releases for events such as the departure of the equipment truck to spring training, the Red Sox Monday sent out one regarding the status of Jon Lester as the opening day starter on April 5 in Detroit. Such an announcement was surely seen as one that all of New England, perhaps much of the free world, was clamoring to read. Tomorrow, presumably, the Sox will release information on the status of the No. 9 batter.

Undoubtedly, the opening day starter is regarded as an honor among many major leaguers, but Josh Beckett didn’t seem to have much of a problem with it, just as he didn’t last season. Manager Bobby Valentine, in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, expressed relief that Beckett felt that way, and did admit that the decision had weighed on him in recent days.

For Lester, it’s a relief, because as he said Monday, he can get his first start out of his mind and he can get right into the season. It’s an honor because he becomes the first left-hander since Mel Parnell (three years, 1952-54) to make back-to-back opening-day starts.

It’s just that there are 162 games in a season and somebody’s got to kick it off. Truthfully, the Sox want their best on the mound to oppose reigning American League MVP/Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, but was it such a big deal a year ago when Lester was also accorded the honor – and promptly gave up six hits and five runs in 51/3 innings at Texas? This isn’t like Jacoby Ellsbury leading off so he can get extra at-bats over the course of a nine-inning game. A pitcher who starts opening day isn’t likely to accumulate many more starts over the course of the season than the fifth starter, given injuries, rest, etc.

So that brings us to the real concern for Valentine and the Sox: Who’s going to start in succeeding days? Beckett will likely follow, which also puts him in line to pitch the Red Sox’ home opener April 13 against the Rays. That might be an even bigger honor than starting on the road. Clay Buchholz will undoubtedly follow as the third starter.

After that is where the Red Sox rotation gets a little iffy. It’s pretty obvious at this time that Daniel Bard is being groomed as the fourth starter, and the former set-up man has looked mostly good thus far in spring training. If you look at general spring training stats, you might be tempted to dismiss pitchers such as Bard being able to get the starting job done. Bard had a tough go of starting his first season in professional ball and was immediately converted to a reliever, where he met with great success. His spring stats, though, indicate an 8.22 ERA, yet that was because, of his three appearances (two starts), he gave up seven runs in his third outing.

Page 2 of 2 - As in many spring training situations, though, there were extenuating circumstances. Often, pitchers will work on one or two particular pitches in a spring training game rather than use their entire repertoire. In Bard’s case, he was looking at a rain-delayed game against St. Louis last Thursday and he didn’t start.

The real problem that Valentine faces is finding a fifth starter … or perhaps a sixth. The most competent starters could be Alfredo Aceves, who had also pitched in three games, starting one (four innings, one run). But Aceves was so valuable last season in a variety of jobs that Valentine seems to be leaning toward keeping him in that utility pitching role.

The fifth starters could come down to a couple of options. Felix Doubront, the hard-throwing, young left-hander, might have the inside track off his 3.00 spring training showing thus far. He started against the Twins Monday, but he gave up two runs on eight hits, needing 79 pitches to escape jams in 42/3 innings. Former Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla has been fascinating, as well, but he hadn’t started in four spring appearances.

The Sox also have former Rockies starter Aaron Cook in the wings. Cook has been set back and will start the season in Triple-A Pawtucket, but could be seen as an option down the road. An even greater option could be Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is showing great signs of progress as he rehabs from last season’s Tommy John surgery. A healthy Matsuzaka would certainly shore up the starting unit somewhere around June.

So, it’s nice that Lester is starting opening day, and that everyone’s happy with the honor, but until the Sox can establish a solid, complete rotation, opening day is just another blip on the season-long radar screen.